"Anterior legs developed, but tarsi of [M] more or less abbreviated, or with one or both claws absent; posterior tibiæ without middle spurs. Fore-wings with vein 7 absent, 8 and 9 stalked or coincident. Hind-wings without præcostal spur." (Plate I., figs. 15, 16, neuration of _Chrysophanus salustius_.)
"The family is large and very generally distributed. The species are of moderate size or more often rather small, usually blue, dark brown, or coppery-orange in colouring, often with series of small black pale-ringed spots on lower surface.
{ 116}"Ovum flattened--spherical or subcylindrical, reticulated and sometimes ribbed, seldom smooth. Larva stout, with few hairs. Pupa attached by tail and a central belt of silk, or sometimes unattached or subterranean."--(Meyrick.)
We have two genera represented in New Zealand, viz.:--
"Eyes glabrous. Club of antennæ elongate. Fore-wings with vein 6 separate, 8 and 9 stalked." (Plate I., figs. 15 and 16 neuration of _C. salustius_).
"An extensive and nearly cosmopolitan genus. Larva short, stout, attenuated at extremities, with short hairs. Pupa attached by the tail and central belt of silk, or sometimes unattached on the ground."--(Meyrick.)
(_Chrysophanus salustius_, Fabr., Butler, Butterflies of N. Z., Trans. N. Z. Inst. x. 263. _Chrysophanus rauparaha_, Fereday, Trans. N. Z. Inst. ix. 460. _Chrysophanus maui_, ib. x. 252.)
(Plate XII., fig. 18 [M], 19 [F], 20 and 21 under side; Plate XIII., figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 varieties.)
This pretty little butterfly appears to be very common in most parts of New Zealand. I have records of its occurrence in abundance at various localities, from Napier southwards to Invercargill.
The expansion of the wings varies from 1 to 1½ inches. _On the upper side all the wings are brilliant shining copper, with black markings._ Fore-wings with three spots near the middle, then a row of black spots, often forming a band nearly parallel with the termen, another row on the termen, generally touching the narrow black border of the wing. Hind-wings resembling fore-wings, except that there is only one elongate spot in the centre, and the terminal series of spots is nearly always separated from the black border. In the female the black spots are united and form bands, those on the termen often having violet or blue centres. The veins in both sexes are indicated by black lines, which are often double in the male, when the vein itself is coppery. On the under side the fore-wings are orange-brown, bordered with yellow; the spots resemble those of the upper side, except that the terminal series are generally faint or obsolete towards the costa. The hind-wings vary from light yellow to dull brown; the spots are dull greyish, the posterior series often having white centres.